[Verb in Infinitive] AL... ?

Question

The sentence "tocar al piano"=playing the piano...I don't understand why it isn't just "tocar el piano." Or, in the sentence "Amo a AC/DC"...why isn't it just "Amo AC/DC"? Sorry, I guess those two are not the same problem... But I don't understand either of these concepts. help please?

very nicely structured questions, thanks:) - 00494d19, Aug 6, 2011

Answer 1

With a musical instrument it is tocar el piano, tocar la guitarra, etc. At least thats how I learned it and how I use it when speaking and writing in Spanish. The "a" in "Amo a AC/DC is a personal "a" used when referring to a specific or known person/group of people.

Answer 2

Probably quentin got it, we say tocar el piano, but jugar al tenis.

Both would be to play something

Answer 3

Maybe someone confused tocar with jugar a